SHANNON AIRPORT has been included in the new Regional Airports Programme which will split a €45m capital investment between four airports.
After welcoming 2.3m passengers in 2025, a sixteen-year high, it was feared that Shannon Airport’s high performance could preclude it from securing funding in the programme.
However, the scope of the Regional Airports Programme 2026-2030 has been broadened to now include airports with up to three million passengers per annum.
Following the recent National Development Plan review, the Sectoral Investment Plan for Transport will provide almost €45 million capital investment over the period 2026-2030 under the Regional Airports Programme for airports that meet the new criteria, namely Shannon, Ireland West Airport (Knock), Kerry and Donegal.
Funding from the programme is aimed at helping airports maximise existing capacity, invest in infrastructure and support continued passenger growth. It is designed to support connectivity and balanced regional development, while ensuring airports can meet European Union safety and security obligations. Projects focused on sustainability and carbon reduction, in line with the Climate Action Plan, will also be eligible for support.
Interim CEO of the Shannon Airport Group, Ray O’Driscoll said they were “very pleased” to be included in the new programme. “This represents a strong endorsement of Shannon’s strategic importance to balanced regional development and our role in supporting sustainable connectivity for the West and Mid-West. It will support essential upgrades and ongoing investment to ensure our airport infrastructure remains resilient and future‑ready.
“Inclusion in this programme is something we have consistently highlighted as essential to ensuring that Shannon Airport can continue to deliver on its full potential for the country. We would like to thank Minister O’Brien and the Department of Transport, and we look forward to working closely with them as we advance these important initiatives for the region and the communities we serve,” O’Driscoll added.
Junior Minister, Timmy Dooley (FF) labelled Shannon Airport’s inclusion as a significant boost and one which recognises the airport’s regional and national importance. “Shannon is Ireland’s second largest long-haul airport after Dublin and plays a critical role for the Mid-West and the wider western region. Its inclusion in this Programme provides additional certainty as it continues to expand its route network and grow passenger numbers”.
Dooley continued, “Shannon operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It supports thousands of jobs and provides vital connectivity for tourism and international business. This funding framework recognises that strategic role”.
Clare TD, Cathal Crowe (FF) stated, “Owing to its passenger growth figures Shannon was losing out on millions of euros of funding each year – funding that would enable to airport to undertake vital but financially burdensome capital improvement works. I have been successful in my efforts as Chairman of the Shannon Airport Oireachtas Group and Fianna Fáil Spokersperson on Aviation in trying to get the threshold of passenger numbers raised so that Shannon would qualify for the Regional Airports Programme. Now airports with annual passenger figures up to 3 million will be eligible to draw on this guaranteed state funding”.
